Planning Commission approves several continuances and routine items; conditionally approves Potrero Hill demolition and new home with ADU

The San Francisco Planning Commission on May 8 voted unanimously to continue multiple items, approve its consent calendar and approve a conditional use authorization for a new single-family house with an accessory dwelling unit at 788 Arkansas Street.

The commission voted 7-0 to continue items 1(a) and 1(b) (case numbers listed on the agenda as 2024-000343 CUA and VAR) to June 5, 2025, and to continue item 2 (case number 2023-011606 CUA at 935 Gary Street) to June 12, 2025. Commission President Soh called the roll and announced the continuance motion carried “7 to 0.” Commissioner Imperial moved to continue “items as proposed,” and the motion was seconded and carried, with Commissioners Campbell, McGarry, Williams, Braun, Imperial, Moore and President Soh voting aye.

On the consent calendar, the commission approved two planning items — interim housing code amendments related to hotel/motel conversions (case 2025-002372 PCA) and a conditional use authorization at 1222 Harrison Street (case 2025-000833 CUA) — by a single roll-call vote. Commissioner Braun moved to approve items 3 and 4; the motion passed 7-0.

On a separate, contested item the commission approved a request for conditional use authorization at 788 Arkansas Street (case 2024-002087 CUA). Department staff presented the project as a demolition of an existing two-bedroom, two-story single-family dwelling built c.1910 and construction of a new four-story, approximately 4,348-square-foot single-family home with a roughly 486-square-foot studio accessory dwelling unit (ADU), two parking spaces, two class-1 bicycle spaces and about 500 square feet of usable open space. Gabriela Pantojo, Department of Planning staff, said the department received eight letters in support and none in opposition and found the project consistent with the General Plan and the Potrero Hill Area Plan. The commission previously asked the sponsor to explore adding a second unit; the sponsor responded by adding the studio ADU. Commissioner Braun thanked the sponsor for incorporating the ADU and said he was pleased to see “in addition to housing here” the modest ADU. The commission approved the project with conditions on a motion that passed unanimously 7-0.

Votes at a glance - Continuances: Motion to continue items as proposed (items 1a/1b to 6/5/2025 and item 2 to 6/12/2025). Outcome: passed unanimously (7–0). Motion moved by Commissioner Imperial; second noted. (Agenda case numbers as announced.) - Consent calendar: Items 3 and 4 (case 2025-002372 PCA and case 2025-000833 CUA) approved by roll call. Outcome: passed unanimously (7–0). Motion moved by Commissioner Braun; second noted. - 788 Arkansas Street (case 2024-002087 CUA): Conditional use authorization to demolish an existing two-story house and construct a four-story single-family residence with a 486 sq ft studio ADU, two parking spaces, two class 1 bicycle spaces and ~500 sq ft usable open space. Outcome: approved with conditions, passed unanimously (7–0). Motion moved and seconded as recorded in the minutes.

Why it matters: The continuances shift scheduling for neighborhood projects and equity-related items; the Arkansas Street approval replaces an older, smaller dwelling with a larger single-family house and an added ADU in Potrero Hill, a decision the commission framed as increasing ownership and rental options while balancing neighborhood concerns.

What’s next: Continued items will return on the dates announced by staff. The Arkansas Street project will proceed to permitting subject to the conditions adopted by the commission and the standard building and fire code review carried out by the Department of Building Inspection.